Tony Hill asks: �What's the plan for redistricting of Mpls. wards? It should have been done this year.
�The good news is that wards 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 13 are within range (+/- 5%) and can conceivably be left alone in redistricting. Wards 1, 11, and 12 need to gain population. Wards 2 and 6 need to shed it. �� The danger is that someone will sue to force another election in these wards on the grounds that the redistricting wasn't done in time for the election. �It could also be a problem if redistricting is done next year and then there is no election until '05, meaning that some people effectively have two council members for three years. � Brian Melendez responds: �Nobody has blown it yet. City redistricting occurs in years ending in two, and so is not scheduled until next year. � and then lists the legal timetable for redrawing ward lines [TB] I would disagree with the �nobody has blown it yet�. The charter amendment which established 4 year terms for councilmembers blew it when it allowed councilmembers to be elected to terms that extend 3 plus years past the redrawing of ward lines nor did it provide for staggered council terms (half elected every 2 years). In contrast, the entire Hennepin County Board, which also redistricts in 2002 will stand for election that year. Part of the Board will initially be elected to 4-year terms, part 2-year terms to maintain the stagger, but everyone in Hennepin County will elect a representative in 2002. In the City of Minneapolis, it was less of an issue in the redistricting based on the 1990 census because at the time coucilmembers (then Aldermen) were elected to 2 year terms. Now we have a situation where we could have wards with no resident councilmember for 3 plus years. In my non-legally trained mind, that is where the lawsuit to force and election comes from. The state restriction that Brian refers to prevents the city from drawing new ward lines until after the legislature redistricts. The state has no reasonable basis for this restriction, except to perhaps, prevent embarrassment to the legislature when it becomes obvious that it takes them longer to redistrict than it does any other body. Mechanically there is no reason that new city ward boundaries couldn�t have been completed in time for this year�s election. Not electing councilmembers from wards drawn based on the 2000 census until 2005 is a crime. I suspect that someone will file a lawsuit to try to force a council election in 2003. If it is successful, it could have an interesting effect on the mayoral election in 2005. Councilmembers elected to 4-year terms in 2003 would be half way through their term in 2005 and could run for Mayor without giving up their council seats. Imagine the possibilities! Terrell Brown Loring Park [EMAIL PROTECTED] BTW, the quote �There are lies, there are damn lies and then there are statistics� One person wrote me saying that it was from Mark Twain, another that Twain had attributed it to Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. An internet search has found Disraeli saying "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." http://www.theonion.com/onion3734/god_clarifies_dont_kill.html __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals. http://personals.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
